Since 1999, many of displaced people within and outside of Kosovo (S/RES/1244(1999)) live in a precarious situation, where access to basic rights remains a significant challenge. UNHCR estimates that there are nearly 116,000 people with displacement related needs remaining in the region and within Kosovo (S/RES/1244(1999)) awaiting for solutions, namely 97,286 with displacement related needs in Serbia (out of 203,140 as per the Serbian Commissariat for Refugees and Migration data); 16,714 in Kosovo (S/RES/1244(1999)), 674 in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and 1,477 in Montenegro. Majority of returnees were displaced in Serbia 57 per cent (of which 65 per cent were Serbs), followed by those 20 per cent within Kosovo (S/RES/1244(1999)) (of which 54 per cent RAE), 14 per cent in Montenegro (of which 72 per cent RAE), 5 per cent in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (of which 96 per cent are RAE) and 4 per cent from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia. Since 2010, the numbers of returns per year have progressively decreased, which raised concerns on the prospects of those still in displacement and in need of finding a durable solution. Almost 10,000 displaced people in the region registered their intention to return with UNHCR since 2009. UNHCR will continue advocating for solutions planning for all 10,000 displaced people who registered their intention to return, including engagement of all relevant stakeholders that would ensure timely attainment of durable solutions as well as sustainability of the process. Resources available to support voluntary returns to and within Kosovo (S/RES/1244(1999)) are limited. Lack of employment opportunities and impediments to the access to property rights, still remain challenging. With current funding availability and with a pace of 700 returnees per year established by the MCR in its strategic objectives and actual precondition on the availability of housing projects, additional decades would be needed to close the chapter of protracted displacement situation, unless some changes are brought about.
UNHCR’s planned responsible disengagement from involvement in assistance programs for Kosovo (S/RES/1244(1999)) caseload remains on course to end in 2017. As a result, in terms of the protection and operations strategy for, the period 2016-2017 is expected to bring more concrete solutions to legacy caseload in the region. The momentum of regional coordination on the issue of Kosovo (S/RES/1244(1999)) displacement among responsible institutions has been reached in 2015 through the so-called, Skopje Initiative. The responsible institutions from Belgrade, Skopje, Podgorica and Pristina through joint efforts agreed on the establishment of a regional inter-institutional platform and endorsed principles that will guide entire process at regional level.
Acting through concerted efforts to program the processes for durable solutions, that promote conditions for voluntary returns and support the option of integration in places of displacement on the basis of free and informed decision-making, remains crucial for UNHCR at regional level. As a result, and given the short window of opportunity, UNHCR Kosovo (S/RES/1244(1999)) in close coordination with UNHCR offices in the region will embark on active facilitation of a comprehensive approach focused on needs-based prioritization, beneficiary driven solutions, municipality-based actions planning and potentially donor-funded projects. The new approach will be reinforced with a normative act, namely regulation on DPs and durable solutions to be adopted in 2016.